Broyles Plans to Come Back Next Season

Staff Reports

01/06/2011

NORMAN, Okla. -- Ryan Broyles, the most prolific receiver in Oklahoma history, announced tonight that he will return for his senior season with the Sooners.

We've got a chance to have a very good team next season and I really want to be part of that," Broyles said. "I like the guys on the team and the coaches, and feel like there is more we can accomplish. Being at OU means a lot to me. It's a great environment."

But there's something else.

"I want to finish my degree," Broyles said. "That's very important to me.

Through three seasons, Broyles has 266 catches for 3,429 yards and 14 touchdowns. In 2010, when he was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and a consensus All-American, Broyles hauled in 131 passes for 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The NCAA won't compute final statistics until all the bowl games are played, but Broyles entered the bowl season as the nation's leader in receptions per game and No. 3 in receiving yards per game.

Even with all of the impressive numbers, Broyles wants to do more on the college level.

"Personally, I know I can mature as a person and a player and get myself better prepared for the NFL," he said. "I want to win more championships and break every record possible as a receiver. I'm fortunate to have the players around me who can help me achieve those goals."

OU Head Coach Bob Stoops said Broyles will put another year to good use.

"I know how Ryan will invest himself and this will work out very well for him," Stoops said. "He'll make himself an even better player and have himself at a peak when he gets ready to enter pro football. I absolutely believe he made the right decision."

Stoops said the Norman native continues to impress in the way he plays and interacts with his teammates.

"He's a great football player and leader," Stoops said. "You just shake your head at some of the things he can do and yet he impacts our team equally in the way he handles himself in other aspects of our program. His return obviously strengthens us in many ways."

Broyles put an exclamation point on his 2010 season when he caught 13 catches for 170 yards and one touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl win over Connecticut.